Pa. officer kills self with shotgun in squad

Officer Richard Lizzio, a 24-year veteran of the force, shot himself Friday morning

By PoliceOne Staff

UPPER SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. - An officer with the Upper Southampton Police Department was found dead Friday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officer Richard Lizzio, 55, shot himself with a shotgun in his police cruiser Friday morning while parked in a church parking lot. He was found by church maintenance workers around 8:30 a.m.

Lizzio had been with the department for 24 years, and according to LowerMorelandPatch.com, was both a firearms instructor and officer in charge. He was married with no children.

“He was a valuable member of our team,” Upper Southampton Chief of Police Ron MacPherson told LowerMorelandPatch.com. “He will be sorely missed.”

In addition, an officer responding to the call suffered a mild heart attack, but is recovering in serious condition at a nearby hospital. Ivyland Borough Police Chief Nicholas Rosato was directing traffic when he suffered the attack. Officers at the scene were able to revive him with an AED.

According to PhillyBurbs.com, Friday's suicide is the second involving a Bucks County police officer in the last 12 months.